My thoughts on the Phillies season.

2010 National League Championship Series, Game # 5: True grit shown by a wounded Doc Halladay, a weird top of the third and a Jayson Werth homer gives the Phils a 4-2 win, sending the series back to Philly.

True grit shown by their ace Roy Halladay, who was pitching through a mild groin injury, a wierd-o top of the third inning where the Phils took the lead, and a solo blast by Jayson Werth in the top of the ninth gives the Phils a 4-2 win, as they cut the Giants’ lead in the series, 3-2. The game will now return to Philadelphia for game six on Saturday.

The Giants took the lead in the first as, with two men on, and with one man out, Buster Posey hits into an RBI force out, 4-6, on a possible doubleplay grounder that was botched by second baseman Chase Utley before he threw to second base to force out Freddy Sanchez, who had earlier singled, allowing Andres Torres, who had started the inning off with a walk, and then went to third on Sanchez’s single, to score, giving the Giants a 1-0 lead, as Posey beats shortstop Jimmy Rollins’ throw to first. The Phils then came back in the third. Raul Ibanez started the inning off with a single, then moved up to second base as Carlos Ruiz is hit by the pitch. Roy Halladay then bunted the ball in front of the plate, although possibly a foul ball, it was called fair by the home plate umpire, as Posey grabbed the ball and threw it to third, trying to get out Ibanez, as Halladay stood in the batter’s box, thinking it was foul, but, Pablo Sandoval was unable to get back to the third base bag, as Ibanez is called safe, while Ruiz reach second base. But, Sandoval then recovers and threw to first base for the out, 2-5-4, as the throw beats Halladay to the bag, as Halladay is credited with a sacrifice bunt. The next batter, Shane Victorino, then hits a grounder towards first baseman Aubrey Huff, who committed a fielding error as the ball hit against his right leg, and bounce into left center field, allowing both Ibanez and Ruiz to score, giving the Phils a 2-1 lead, while allowing Victorino to move up to second base. Placido Polanco then followed with an RBI single, scoring Victorinio, giving the Phils a 3-1 lead. The Giants got a run back in the fourth as, with a runner on second, and with one man out, Cody Ross hits an RBI double, knocking in Pat Burrell, who had earlier doubled, making it a 3-2 Phils’ lead. Halladay would then keep the Giants down, squashing a pair of rallies in the fifth and the sixth innings. The Phils then tried to add to their lead in the seventh as they placed runners on the corners, with Rollins on third, who had started the inning off with a single, before stealing first second, and then third, and Ruiz on first, who had walked, with one man out, before pinch hitter Ross Gload ended the inning by hitting into a line out-doubleplay, three-unassisted. The Phils would finally increase their lead in the ninth as Jayson Werth hits a lead-off home run, his second home run of the series, giving the Phils a 4-2 lead. That would end up being the final score as Brad Lidge would receive his first save of the series as he pitches a 1-2-3 inning, getting pinch hitter Travis Ishikawa to end the game by striking out on a foul tip caught by Ruiz.

Roy Halladay gets the win as he pitches six innings, giving up two runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out five. His series record is now 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA. Jose Contreras receives his first hold of the series as he pitches two-thirds of an inning, giving up a hit, while striking out a batter. J.C. Romero also gets his first hold of the series as he pitches a third of an inning, getting out the only man that he would face. Ryan Madison receives his first hold of the series as he threw a 1-2-3 inning, striking out the side. Brad Lidge receives his first save of the series as he also pitches a 1-2-3 inning, striking out a batter. Tim Lincecum took the lost as he pitches seven innings, giving up three runs, two of which were earned, on four hits and a walk, while striking out seven. His series record is now 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA. Sergio Romo and Javier Lopez combine for a scoreless inning, giving up a walk (Romo), while striking out a batter (Lopez) between them. Ramon Ramirez pitches two thirds of an inning, giving up a run on two hits. Jeremy Affeldt pitches a third of an inning, striking out the only batter that he would face.

The Phils had only six hits in the game, with Raul Ibanez leading the team with two hits, both singles. Placido Polanco, Chase Utley, Jayson Werth and Jimmy Rollins had the other four Phils hits, with Polanco, Utley and Rollins’ hits being singles, with Polanco knocking in a run, while Werth’s hit was a solo home run. The other two Phil’s runs came in on an error hit by Shane Victorino, with him receiving an RBI. The offense still have not had a breakout inning, but it has once again taken advantage of the opponent’s mistake(s), this time to get the game taken back to Philadelphia.

The Phils (2-3) are still alive in the series, as they take a day off before coming back to Philadelphia to face the Giants (3-2) in game six of the series on Saturday.

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